William Stephen Richard King-Hall
Commander (retired) William Stephen Richard King-Hall, (21 January, 1893 – ) was an officer in the Royal Navy. As a torpedo officer, he never commanded a ship, but documented his service in the light cruiser Southampton at the Battle of Jutland in a book.
Life & Career
The son of Rear-Admiral King-Hall. King-Hall spent 1911 in the dreadnought H.M.S. Neptune. He would serve in the second class protected cruiser Hermes and the third class protected cruiser Pegasus before being appointed to the light cruiser Southampton in February, 1914. He would remain in her for three years.[1]
In 1914, King-Hall attempted to rescue a sailor from Southampton from drowning. He was awarded the Royal Humane Society's Bronze Medal and received an expression of the Admiralty's appreciation for his effort.[2]
King-Hall was promoted to the rank of Lieutenant on 28 February, 1915. He was thanked for his initiative in inventing a "Torpedo Instructional Appliance." King-Hall fought at the Battle of Jutland in Southampton.[3]
On 16 March, 1917, he left Southampton for an appointment in the super-dreadnought H.M.S. Ramillies. He remained in her through to September when he was appointed to the torpedo training school H.M.S. Vernon for the Long Torpedo Course. On 13 April, 1918 he was appointed to Maidstone for torpedoes and for submarines of the Ninth Submarine Flotilla.[4]
King-Hall received thirty guineas for winning the first Trench-Gascoigne prize for his 1918 essay submitted to the Royal United Service Institution.[5]
King-Hall was promoted to the rank of Lieutenant-Commander on 28 February, 1923.[6]
King-Hall was appointed to Repulse as torpedo officer on 16 December, 1926. Promoted to the rank of Commander on 3 June, 1928, his appointment in Repulse ended on 11 July 1928 when he was placed on the books of Victory for unpaid time.[7]
King-Hall was placed on the Retired List at his own request on 13 July, 1929.[8]
World War II
King-Hall was granted an exemption from naval mobilisation and was put to work organising the defence of aircraft factories under the Ministry of Aircraft Production.[9]
King-Hall wrote a memoir entitled "A Naval Lieutenant", which was later published as "A North Sea Diary: 1914-1918". It is available online in a variety of formats.
See Also
Footnotes
- ↑ King-Hall Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/55/129. f. 129.
- ↑ King-Hall Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/55/129. f. 129.
- ↑ King-Hall Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/55/129. f. 129.
- ↑ King-Hall Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/55/129. f. 129.
- ↑ "United Service Institution Prizes." The Times (London, England), 4 June 1919, p. 9.
- ↑ King-Hall Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/55/129. f. 129.
- ↑ King-Hall Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/55/129. f. 129.
- ↑ King-Hall Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/55/129. f. 129.
- ↑ King-Hall Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/55/129. f. 129.
